The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-02-05

BALTIMORE, January 14th, 1887.
USEFUL INFORMATION.

We are indebted to the American Agriculturist
for February for the following interesting items:
Cut Stra'o for Bedding.-BedGing is used to
retain bodily heat and to save animal excrement.
For both these purposes straw is excellent, and
cut straw is better. Straw is very poor conduc-
tor of heat. Its substance is poor conductor;
and it holds in and among its culms bodies of still
air, which also are poor conductors. Straw is
also good absorbent. But it is SO coarse that q
good part of the urine of the animal is apt to pass
through it before being absorbed. This can be
prevented only by cutting the straw. This brings
the culms closer together, making the mass more
compact, hence the urine cannot pass through SO
readily, and all of it is absorbed Cutting the
straw also makes it poorer conductor of heat,
for this makes the bodies of still air smaller and
increases their number correspondingly. When
cut. the straw more readily rots in the compost
heap; and straw, mixed with the excrement of
the animals and thoroughly rotted in the compost
heap makes most excellent manure.
The Farm in February.-February, the shortest
of the months, standing between midwinter and
the beginning of spring, partakes, in measure, OF
the character of both seasons We often have
with the bland airs from the sunny southland
give us occasionally few almost summer days
as a reminder that in the never-ceasing round OF
the seasons winter is departing and spring ad-
yancing The season of study, of planning and
Of maturing plans is passing, while that OF active,
telling work is at the door. "Progress" should
be the thinking farmers motto and determination.
Among the new methods, new varieties, new crops,
new stock, new implements, new fertilizers con-
stanty offered and introduced, some are worthy of
immediate adoption, because really better than
those we have had. Others are temptingly offered
with asseverations and loudly supported -eiaizrs
that would "deceive the very elect, but are ab 4
solutely valuless. We should therefore make
haste SLOWLY, and if farmer folks would only be as
ready to investigate those new things that offer
fair reward for good work as they are to take to
frauds that offer quick and great profits without an
equivalent in labor, their progress would be rapid
indeed.
Name Your Farm-In discussing ways and
means for inducing greater love for their nome
on the part of farmers children, naming the farm
has been overlooked. There is this mucn IN
name. that it is something tangible and our atteo-
tions are ant to take strong hold upon it. Fa-
mons students of words have written warmly OF
the mower there is in names. 1t is slgnlhcant
fact that the masses never grow enthusiastic ABOUT
an abstract idea until it is personlfed, and per-
sonifcation includes a name.
There is another reason for naming the Iarm'
more material and yet not less substantial and I'M
portant 1t makes the farm better known. IL Is
easier to refer to it. 1t gives the farm honor.
MANY men find that the names of their farms nave
cone before their own names and the farm with
a name is always considered more important,
somewhat better, than the farm without name
Rnt II is not enough to name the farm simply
The name must be suggestive and appropriate
and withal pleasing to the ear. NOT snouiu tne
name be high sounding, or one taken from oid
classics or from the turf or play. Let IL pe sug
gestye of the best or most pleasant feature OF the
home. Let the grove that gives so much pleasure,
or the snrnos or streams by, or the nil tnat
affords such fine views, the valley along which
the land lies and in which the home nestles, be
commemorated in the name. Then the name will
surely be appropriate and suggestive; and II VIII
bring TO mind. quick as thought. that about the
home which is best and most pleasant arounu
hich all the other features are clustered
Care of Live Stock in February.-Sheep-Pr
vide warm stables for ewes near lamblng, ana see
that the lambs are not chilled. They should have
roots rather than grain at this perlod 1850 OooS
MIX up tolerably close to calving If the milk IS
rood. If COW goes dry four weeks 1t is usually
enough If there is danger OF milk leVer-anu
there always is with large and rick milkers-do
NOT milk out Clean nor let the calf do so, for fully
three days, so long the coostrum can be detect
ed in the milk Poultry-No doubt well man
aged incubator pays well for Matching hens eggs
and ducks eggs. Good cross bred fowls are more
profitable for market than full breds. Always
use full bred roosters and gobblers. Ducks and
greese are best bred pure, except, perhaps, when
nom breeding ybrids desired, crossing common
ducks with Muscovies and tame geese with the
wild gander These are far superior Tor the taoie'
and bring propOrtionately higher price wnen
known.